Land Rover has announces plans for a limited run, high-performance Defender Works V8 4x4, built to celebrate Land Rover's 70th anniversary.
The Defender Works V8 pays homage to the early high-powered engines in both the Series III Stage 1 V8 from 1979, which are highly sought after by enthusiasts and collectors today.
The limited edition 4x4 will be the most powerful and fastest Defender the company has ever built. It will be one of the most exclusive, too, with a maximum of 150 V8-powered examples planed for production.
The 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated petrol V8 powertrain produces 297kW and 515 Nm of torque (the standard Defender delivered 90kW and 360 Nm). The Defender Works V8 will accelerate from 0-60100km/h in 5.6sec, while top speed is increased to 170km/h.
The V8 powertrain will be fitted to 150 specially-selected and re-engineered Defenders for the 70th Edition, complemented by an eight-speed ZF automatic transmission, uprated brakes and handling kit (springs, dampers and anti-roll bars), plus exclusive 18-inch diamond-turned Sawtooth alloy wheels and 265/65 R18 all-terrain tyres.
Eight standard body colours include two satin finishes – contrasting with a Santorini Black roof, wheel arches and front grille – finished with machined aluminium door handles, fuel filler cap and Defender bonnet lettering. A comprehensive lighting upgrade includes bi-LED headlamps.
Full Windsor Leather interior trim covers the dashboard, door panels, headlining and Recaro sports seats. Land Rover Classic’s own Classic Infotainment System is also fitted.
A select number of upgrades inspired by Defender Works V8 will also be available to purchase soon from Land Rover Classic, including power upgrades for the TDCi diesel engine, high-performance suspension and braking kits.
“It’s fitting that we’ve been able to release the full potential of the iconic Defender, whose much-loved shape remains synonymous with Land Rover, 70 years since it was seen in public for the first time," said Jaguar Land Rover Classic Director, Tim Hannig.
“The idea of reintroducing a V8 Defender was something we were discussing as far back as 2014, when we were still building the Defender in Solihull.
"We knew the demand was there for a powerful and fast Defender; the Land Rover authenticity is the ultimate finishing touch for discerning clients purchasing these collector’s edition Defenders.”
Both 90 and 110 wheelbase Defender Works V8 derivatives will be available to purchase direct from Land Rover Classic, with prices starting from £150,000 (NZ$285,000) for a 90 in the UK. International pricing has not been released with Land Rover recommending all enquiries be sent to Land Rover Classic directly.
-Driven
V8 Deffender History
- V8 powertrains in the Land Rover Defender and its production predecessors started with the Series III Stage 1 V8 of 1979. The carburetted 3.5-litre Rover V8 produced 66kW.
- The Land Rover One Ten from 1983, and Ninety from 1984, used the same 3.5-litre Rover V8 engine as the Series III Stage 1 V8, but in 83kW form, uprated to 100kW from 1987.
- For North American Specification (NAS) Defender 90s and 110s only, from 1992, a 133kW fuel-injected 3.9-litre version of the Rover V8 was fitted, along with a four-speed automatic transmission.
- In 1998, the fuel-injected 140kW 4.0-litre V8 from the second-generation Range Rover was fitted to a limited run of 50th Anniversary Defender 90s, with a four-speed automatic transmission.
- 5.0-litre naturally-aspirated 2018 Defender Works V8 is the first official V8-powered Land Rover Defender to be introduced since 1998.
